Description
Carolina Reaper is an exceptionally hot pepper known for wrinkled, bright-red fruit, often about 2 inches long, with a distinctive pointed “stinger” tail. Developed from hot pepper breeding that includes habanero and ghost-pepper ancestry, it can reach roughly 1.5 million Scoville heat units or more, with considerable variation among fruits. The original listing describes vigorous plants reaching up to 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, with about 95 days to harvest under favorable conditions. Its fruity flavor is best appreciated in extremely small amounts.
Growing in Alabama: Set plants outdoors only after frost danger passes and the soil has warmed. Provide at least 6–8 hours of direct sun, fertile well-drained soil, and plenty of room for airflow. Keep moisture reasonably even, mulch to protect roots during hot spells, and avoid excessive nitrogen that encourages foliage instead of fruit. This long-season pepper may continue ripening into fall; protect plants from early frost. Extreme heat can briefly slow fruit set during the hottest weeks.
Handle with extreme care: Wear disposable gloves when harvesting or cutting fruit, keep hands away from eyes and skin, and use good ventilation when cooking. Never touch seeds or cut peppers with bare hands, and keep fruit away from children and pets.
